Williamsburg EATS!

I need help from my fellow Chowhounds.....When it comes to Brooklyn, is Williamsburg a good lunch/dinner destinations for Manhattan peeps like myself? What restaurants a re cool there, like Planet Thai etc...Would you recommend another BK hood with good restaurants? Please name a few if so...Thanks guys. ($40-70 for 2 people)

I'm an out-of-towner but my daughter has dragged me around to some good places including Sweetwater, which I can second (or third), Moto, Egg (brunch only). I liked M Shanghai Den as well, with better and more authentic Shanghainese food than one would have guessed.

One resto does not a neighborhood make, but Queens Hideaway in Greenpoint is good, and my Urban Planner instincts are trying to tell me that Greenpoint might be the next hot nabe.

I agree with the recommendations above, but wouldn't come from Manhattan to go to Diner - especially if you want to eat inside as it's a bit smelly. The back room at Marlow & Sons is a better bet (next door to Diner). You mentioned Thai and cool...SEA is worth a try if you're willing to wait, food is not quite as good as Planet Thai but it's a cool space if you don't mind techno music.

I think Cobble Hill / Carrol Gardens has better restaurants than Williamsburg (I now live in Williamsburg after living in Cobble Hill). In your price range I would recommend Frankies 457, Joya (Thai), Savoila (has great pizza) and Bar Tabac (has a great burger), . If you could raise your budget a bit then I would recommend Chestnut, Jolie and Downtown Atlantic...and if you want to splurge, Grocery and Saul. If you want to do cheap, then Zaytoons (Middle Eastern - BYOB).

i have to disagree with the SEA rec. the food is pretty bad, and the scene is really annoying - lots of sex and the city types ( and their attendant double-parked suvs) out to see this trendy williamsburg place that they keep hearing about.

Baci and Abbracci has some delicious and wonderful pizzas, and Marlow and Sons is so consistently good.

And about Greenpoint...I wish I could say that the neighborhood is rapidly catching up with W'burg in making a splash, but like all the development in G'point, it moves much more slowly compared to the 'burg. Come to think of it -- I definitely prefer that!

- Fada is a lovely french bistro with WONDERFUL steak tar tar and escargot.- Silent H on north 8th and Berry is wonderful vietenamese food with a byob!- Black Betty on Metropolitan and Union has just wonderful medeteranian and great drinks...their salads are cheap and out of this world (Esp the steak salad). Its a good dark place - great for dates- Moto on Broadway and Hooper (there's no sign on the door, only a bicycle) is great french peasant food with live music on weekends. They are often really busy and its hard to get a table at peak times though.- M Shanghai is really interesting chinese (tea infused asparagus!)- Aqua Santa is nice italian with good service and a nice backyard.